Can High Impact Cardio Damage the Inner Ear?
Vigorous Aerobic Exercise Could Lead to Balance Problems
Oct 12, 2009
There's no doubt that high impact cardio burns major calories, but there may be a risk to all that calorie burning. A new study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness shows that too much jumping around can cause damage to the inner ear. Inner ear problems are no laughing matter. They can lead to dizziness, nausea, hearing loss, and ringing in the ears which may be permanent.
High Impact Cardio: Can It Really Damage to the Inner Ear?
A neurology professor at New York Medical College has studied a group of 30 cases of damage to the delicate hairs in the inner ear related to high impact cardio and fitness exercises. It seems that the trauma associated with jumping up and down may be enough to structurally damage the tiny hairs in the ear that transmit information to the brain about orientation and balance. When these hairs are damaged, people experience a sense of being off-balance, disoriented, and dizzy even when standing still. They're also more susceptible to motion sickness when traveling by car, boat, or plane. Another problem associated with damage to the inner ear is hearing loss which may be permanent.
It's not just high impact cardio involving jumping that seemed to trigger the damage to the inner ear seen in this group of women. Running long distances also appeared to increase the risk. Dr. Weintraub, the chief researcher, believes that up to a quarter of all people doing high impact cardio may be affected by this problem. Tests such as MRIs were done to rule out other causes of damage to the inner ear in these women and none were found.
What is High Impact Cardio?
High impact cardio is exercise that's usually intense and involves jumping and other activities that take both feet off the floor at the same time. Although high impact cardio is good for the heart, lungs, and bones, it's associated with a higher risk of injury due to the repetitive jarring motion. Some people favor high impact, more intense cardiovascular exercises because you can burn more calories doing a shorter workout. There are also a variety of low impact workouts such as walking or use of an elliptical machine or exercise bike that can give a good workout without stressing the joints - or the inner ear.
The Bottom Line
High impact exercise is a great way to burn calories and build stronger bones, but not at the price of damaging the inner ear. Lighten up on high impact cardio and alternate it with low impact workouts to reduce the risk of injury. Moderation is the key to a successful workout.
References:
American Fitness. May 1, 1992.
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